WHAT'S ON

It’s all about Pleasure Club, pyrotechnics and paellas in Sydney this week

Welcome back, kids. It’s Monday again, which can mean only one thing—I’m here to give you the rundown on events that are actually good (and affordable) this week. Time to whip out your Google Calendar and listen up.

We’re spoiled for choice this week, so it’s time to beat the winter blues. Standouts include Pleasure Club’s week-long residency in partnership with Johnnie Walker, which will see Vera Blue dishing out nightly (and free) live performances. If you’re a North Shore basic bitch, you’ll be eager to know that SoCal is slinging free tacos with every marg during happy hour this month. Oh, and it’s your last chance to nab a seat at LIMBO The Return, which leaves on Sunday.

Music, culture, food—that’s the vibe, and we’re not complaining. Want all the details? Scroll down to check out our weekly picks.

Ruby Dream’s Artist Residency

We all know that scoring live music gigs with free entry in Sydney is like finding a needle in a haystack. And a pat on the back for me, because I fucking outdid myself this time. Not only do you have free live music, but I present to you performances by none other than Vera Blue, Sarah Ellen, and Porcelain Alice. All will be gracing the stage at the Pleasure Club in Newtown for a week-long residency celebrating Johnnie Walker’s all-new Black Ruby scotch whisky blend. Entry is free, but you can expect crowds to get big for this one, so best to arrive on the early side.

• When: Wednesday 14 to Sunday 18 August
• Where: Pleasure Club, Newtown
• How much: Free entry
• Check it out here.

Free Tacos at SoCal

There are three things I love most in this world: margaritas, tacos, and a strong happy hour special. It’s honestly like SoCal read my mind with this one. Throughout the month, they’re throwing a taco in with every full-priced marg you order during weekday happy hours. From Monday to Thursday, you can score the deal between 5pm and 6:30pm. On Fridays, they’re feeling extra generous, giving you over three happy hours between 3pm and 6:30pm. I know where I’m clocking off for post-work drinks this week.

• When: During happy hour, Monday to Friday in August
• Where: SoCal, Neutral Bay
• How much: Margs from $19 
• Check it out here.

Afterpay Day Mystery Market

Mark it in your calendars, Afterpay Day is just around the corner. Cue yet another excuse to spend all your well-earned money on that jacket that, let’s be real, isn’t actually an investment piece. But I have double good news. This Thursday, your wallet might even thank you, as the Afterpay Day Mystery Market is slinging a decent number of goodies as part of a celebratory giveaway.

The activation will be setting up shop in Pitt St Mall from 9:30 a.m. onwards and welcoming 1,000 walk-ins on a first-come-first-serve basis. What’s in it for you, you’re wondering? Only the chance to win vouchers up to the value of $1,000 from outlets including Dyson, JB Hi-Fi, eBay, Sephora, and more. In other words, someone’s getting a free Dyson Airwrap. All you’ll have to do is pick the mint-coloured box that’s calling your name and hope you’ve saved up some good karma. Oh, and you’ll have to download the Afterpay app and have set up a card, but anything for a freebie, right?

• When: Thursday 15 August, from 9:30am
• Where: Pitt St Mall, Sydney
• How much: Free (first 1,000 customers only)
• Check it out here.

LAST CHANCE FOR LIMBO The Return

Time to gather your people and book that last-minute ticket because it’s your last chance to nab a seat at LIMBO The Return this week. We get that cabaret, acrobatics, and dance can sometimes feel a bit gimmicky, but trust us on this one, it’s a hidden gem. Tickets are reasonably priced and the show feels super intimate and experimental, which is always fun. Perfect place to either weird out or impress a date, depending on your prerogative. Your last chance will be this Sunday before the show heads up to The West End Electric in Brisbane.

• When: Until Sunday 18 August
• Where: The Grand Electric, Surry Hills 
• How much: From $59.
• Check it out here.

The Waratah $20 Steak and Chips

Every Instagrammer in town is talking about The Waratah’s $20 steak and chips special. Unlike any review in the history of reviews, they might actually be onto something here. If you’re done with home cooking for the week and in need of an outing, the new-ish institution is slinging some of the best and ‘most elevated’ pub food in town (if that’s a thing).

• When: Every Thursday.
• Where: The Waratah, Darlinghurst
• How much: $20 a feed
• Check it out here.

$12 Paella Lunches @ Quay Quarter Lane 

Calling all Sydney CBD corporates in North Face puffer vests, this one’s for you. Whoever said it was impossible to find a solid and reasonably priced lunch in the city just wasn’t trying hard enough. This month, the Basque-style pintxos bar in Circular Quay is slinging generous takeaway portions of seafood paella for just $12. Now you know.

• When: Every Thursday and Friday, lunchtime
• Where: Deux Frères, Quay Quarter Lanes 
• How much: $12
• Check it out here.

Sister Act The Musical

Calling all musical buffs, this one’s for you. Sister Act is officially reaching Australian shores this month and delivering a show that’s bound to get your habit in a twist. Australian Idol star, Casey Donovan, will be appearing as Dolores Van Cartier, alongside Genevieve Lemon as Mother Superior and Rhonda Burchmore as Sister Mary Lazarus. Tony and 8-time Oscar award winner Alan Menken also did the original soundtrack, so you can expect some seriously good hymns and hallelujahs.

• When: From Wednesday 7 August
• Where: Capitol Theatre
• How much: From $70
• Check it out here.

Seaside Sauna Manly

Call me crazy, but it appears that sauna sessions have officially become the new alternative to drinking, drugs, and sex amongst the Sydney Gen Z population. Good for them, I guess. If you lump yourself into this category, might I recommend you pop over to the Cedar and Salt pop-up Finnish sauna in Manly running until Spring? The uber-Scandi set-up is situated on Manly’s Quarantine Beach and has views that are hard to rival. Each sweat session will also only set you back $35, which is pretty reasonable compared to other places around town.

• When: Sunrise to sunset, 7 days a week until Spring
• Where: Cedar and Salt, Manly Quarantine Beach
• How much: From $35
• Check it out here.